You're reading: Poll: Russians doubt possibility of country’s isolation

Moscow - Most Russian citizens think the isolation of Russia following Western sanctions amid the events in Ukraine is unlikely, while Moscow and St. Petersburg residents and supporters of non-parliamentary parties most often allow for the possibility of such a scenario, sociologists of the All-Russia Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM) said. Half of Russians think that the possible blockade of Russia by the West is improbable, while 13% believe that such a situation development is impossible, VTsIOM told Interfax following a March poll held in 130 cities, towns and villages in 42 Russian regions and involving 1,600 respondents.

 The United States and European Union have released a number of restrictive measures regarding Russian citizens and have threatened to introduce new sanctions, including economic ones, if situation in Ukraine escalates.

According to the survey, 28% of Russian citizens think that the isolation of Russia by the West is quite possible, 4% suppose this will happen definitely, while 5% failed to respond.

Moscow and St. Petersburg residents (34%), residents of cities with population of over one million (35%) and supporters of non-parliamentary parties (38%) are the ones considering the probability of a new “iron curtain,” while 49% of villagers doubt the possibility of such a scenario, sociologists said.

A total of 47% respondents said they did not expect any changes if Russia is isolated from the West. This stance is shared by young people aged between 18 and 24 (46%), Moscow and St. Petersburg residents (45%), residents of small cities (47%) and supporters of the Just Russia party (54%), the poll showed.

At the same time, 46% of Russians said they foresaw some changes for Russia. Twenty-nine percent of respondents believe that the consequences of Russia’s isolation by the West will be negative – these are firstly young people (34%) and Russians with a low income (35%), sociologists said. Meanwhile, 17% of Russian citizens think that Russia will benefit from such actions of Western countries – these are firstly 24% of Moscow and St. Petersburg residents and supporters of the Russian Communist Party (22%), the survey showed.